Respected kaumātua have supported a call from Māori staff at Unitec to remove the Chair of the joint Unitec/MIT Board
and one remaining member of its Rūnanga.
Māori staff collective Te Rōpū Mataara are calling for the resignation of the Unitec/MIT Board Chair and the one
remaining Unitec Rūnanga member, amid claims of structural racism and conflicting interests.
Te Tira Kāpuia a group of prominent Māori kaumātua who’ve influenced major advancements in education and community
development are reinforcing this call and stepped in to provide support and advocacy for Māori staff.
Te Tira Kāpuia Chair, Rangi McLean says “This is a major issue for Māori in tertiary education. The voices and concerns
of Māori have been stifled at governance and management levels. Now, five of the six of Rūnanga representatives have
resigned as a result of the disrespect shown towards mana Māori.”
Conflict of interest concerns were raised in an open letter to the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins and Te Pūkenga
Board Chair Murray Strong last month, despite this, no sufficient resolution has been implemented to secure the safety
of staff who spoke out.
Te Rōpū Mataara spokesperson Rihi Te Nana says “The situation at Unitec has been exacerbated by the fact that Māori
staff have clearly stated that they have no confidence in the Unitec/MIT Board Chair, as well as the last standing
member of the Unitec Rūnanga”.
To protect and support staff, Rangi McLean, Dr Haare Williams, Mere Tunks, Awi Riddell and Awa Hudson have agreed to
support Te Rōpū Mataara under the banner of Te Tira Kāpuia.
McLean says, “Despite the Minister of Education being notified last month of the grave concerns for the wellbeing of
Māori at Unitec, no sufficient action has been taken to keep staff safe”.
Te Tira Kāpuia have called on the Minister again and Te Pūkenga to enact six resolutions passed by Te Rōpū Mataara,
which includes a vote of no confidence in a senior Board member and one other governance member; the establishment of
mana ōrite at governance and management level; and the immediate halt of the appointment of a Tumu and establishment of
a new Rūnanga until this is done.
While a response letter has been sent to Te Tira Kāpuia and Te Rōpū Mataara, it is not satisfactory and the inaction of
those with the mana to support Māori staff in crisis is condoning their continued mistreatment. However, Te Rōpū Mataara
say they will continue to fight for mana ōrite and uphold the mana of Te Noho Kotahitanga and the legacy of Tā John Te
Ahikaiata Turei.